Clutch-pulley



(No Model.)

J. G. GIBSON. CLUTCH PULLEY Patented 001:. 28, 1890.

a l lllm: hams anus UNITED ST TES cal section taken in the PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES C. GIBSON, OF SAN CLUTCH- rn ncisoo, CALIFORNIA.

PU LLEY,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that L-JAMES C. GIBSON, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of San Francisco, State of California, have invented an Improvement in Clutch-Pulleys; and I hereby declare the fol lowing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

My invention relates to an improvement in belt-pulleys for driving machinery; and it consists of a pulley-rim without a central hub, means for connecting said rim with the driving-shaft or disconnecting it therefrom, so that it will remain stationary, and means for supporting said rim when disconnected from the driving-shaft.

Referring to the accompanying drawings for a more complete explanation of my invention, Figure 1 is a side view of my pulley and the connected mechanism. Fig. 2 is a vertiplane of the axis of the shaft. Fig. 3 is a modification of my device.

A is a pulley-rim having a flange B cast upon one edge, which flange projects toward the center of the pulley.

O is a V-shaped flange, which is also cast with or secured to the rim at one edge, so that the V-shaped portion lies approximately in a plane about midway between the sides of the pulley;

D is a driving-shaft having fixed to and rotating with it a hub E. From this hub project the lugs F and the radial plates G, having radial guide-slots H formed in them.

I are curved arms having at their outer ends the V-shaped segments J, which are adapted to fit into the grooved or V-shaped channel 0 of the pulley-rim. The arms I are fitted to slide radially within the guidingslots H, and their inner ends are connected by links K with levers L, which are fulcrumed in the lugs F, as shown at M. It will be manifest that when the outer ends of these levers are forced outward from the axle the inner ends will be drawn inward, and acting through the links K and curved arms 1, they will force the segments J strongly into contact with the rim 0, and will thus produce frictional contact strong enough to cause the pulley to rotate. This movement of the lever L is proatent No. 439,140, dated October 28, 1890. smart. 352,496. mamas.)

duced by means of a sliding sleeve N, moving on a feather 0 upon a shaft D, so that by means of anyordinary clutch-lever this sleeve may be caused to move to or from the hub'E while at the same time rotating with the shaft. This sleeve is connected by links P with the outer ends of the levers L, of which there may be two or more, as may be required, to properly center the pulley and produce a sufficient frictional contact to drive it. From this construction it willbe manifest that when the sleeve N is forced toward the hub E it will, through the connecting links and levers, act to draw the segments J forcibly against the grooved rim 0 of the pulley, and as these segments are all equidistant from the central shaft the pulley will be maintained in the proper position to rotate evenly and to drive any belt which may pass around its periphery. When the pulley is released by withdrawing the sleeve N, so as to lift the segments J out of the grooved flange C, the movement is sufficient to allow the pulley A to drop slightly, and when it so drops the flange B will rest upon a small grooved roller Q, which is journaled upon a shaft projecting from a support in convenient proximity with the side of the pulley.

R is another roller similarly supported at the side opposite the direction of the belt and slightly below the center of the pulley. This roller R prevents the weight or tension of the belt from drawing the pulley A to one side.

At S,I have shown another roller similarly supported, but having a flat rim traveling against the face of the flange B,and this prevents the pulley A from twisting or turning to one side.

The pulley A may be made in any suitable manner, either cast with its flanges B and C with suitable openings between for lightness, or it may all be made of sheet metal, as may be most preferable.

It will be manifest that the flanges C may be made of various shapes, the segments J corresponding with them; or the segments J might be operated from within and forced outwardly against the convex portion of the flanges O, the object in any case being to center the pulley-rim properly about the driving-shaft E and to produce a sufficient fric- 15 I claim tional' contact to drive the pulley whenever desired and a means for releasing it, so that it may remain stationary when not in use.

In Fig. 3 I have shown a modification in 5 which the web or flange B extends from the pulley-rim toward the center, and the seg ments O'are made in sections and removably bolted or secured to the side of the flange. The suspending rollers are journaled to a sup- IO port at one side of the pulley and the inner 20 within said guides, levers fulcrumed to the hub and each having one end connected with the sliding arms and the opposite end connected with a clutch-sleeve, a means whereby said sleeve may be moved longitudinally upon the shaft so as to actuate the levers and arms, and clampingsegments fixed to the outer ends of the arms, in combination with a pulley-rim having an interior flange shaped similarly tothe segments and adapted to be clamped or gripped thereby, so as to unite the rim with the central hub and cause it to be driven thereby, substantially as herein described.

2. The combination of the rotary shaft, the hub with its slotted radial guide, the pulleyrim having the internal flange, arms mounted on the hub and working in the slotted guides, a clutch-sleeve connected with one end of said arms, a hanger for the rim of the pulley, and the guide-rollers R and S for preventing side movement of the pulley, substantially as herein described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

JAMES C. GIBSON. Witnesses:

S. H. NoURsE, H. 0. LEE. 

